Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

On this website, we’ll guide you through the diverse and dynamic fields within the STEM career cluster. With each of us having a unique range of minors, we have come together to share insight on the trends and opportunities within STEM. Our different career paths range from wildlife conservation to the healthcare industry, allowing us to give a comprehensive look at how they intersect within the field. We will explore STEM as a whole, delve into the history of our combined fields, analyze current and projected trends, and examine how our minors will contribute to future opportunities. The possibilities are endless!

Also referred to as STEM- this career field is ever changing and can range in occupations such as aeronautical engineer, to NASA astronaut, to paleontologist. Careers in this cluster encompass an array of skills in areas like scientific research, technological development, engineering concepts and mathematical theories. One thing is certain, people who join this field share the same passion for improving the natural and human-built worlds. 

Career Fields

Within our career cluster, STEM, our occupational fields consist of medical device sales representative, pharmaceutical sales, and wildlife conservation. While all of these fields fall under the STEM cluster there are similarities and differences that distinguish each field in its on way.

Similarities

As far as medical device sales goes, there is a sense of science, technology, and engineering that takes place in order to produce products to sell. Although the sales representatives job is to sell the products, there is behind the scenes work that relates to STEM. As for pharmaceutical sales, it has a direct correlation to medical sales primarily because of the sales piece, as well as the research and development teams that use science, technology, and engineering to produce medicine and various products to help cure patients. In terms of wildlife conservation, the biggest similarity towards the other two career fields is the consistent dedication to help people, although there is a transition to helping the environment and the animals within it. All of these occupational fields fall under the STEM career cluster in their own ways. Similarities such as research and development programs within the fields, a striving approach to helping others and the environment, and a dedicated workforce all bring medical sales, pharmaceutical sales, and wildlife preservation together under one umbrella, known as STEM.

Differences

Although the career fields within our cluster share similarities that are close to one another, there are differences that separate each field in a unique way. In terms of medical device and pharmaceutical sales, a key difference between the two is the products being sold in each industry. Medical device sales sells physical equipment such as screws, plates, tools, and pins to help complete surgeries for patients. Although pharmaceutical sales is related to device sales, there is a focus on medicine, drugs, and prescription items to help fit the patients needs. These differences allow for two pieces of the same puzzle to come together, although working in different fields. Whereas sales is a piece to both pharmaceutical and devices, wildlife preservation takes on another role towards STEM. The biggest difference between device sales, and wildlife preservation is the activities within the field. As a medical device representative, you will be involved in product demonstrations, and going into the field to have meetings, while wildlife preservation takes on habitat restoration, research, and educational practices around ecological issues to expand the field. As for pharmaceutical sales and wildlife preservation, the biggest difference would be the work environment as pharm sales is typically more office or clinic based, while wildlife preservation is predominantly outdoors doing research, and hands on activities.

What Is STEM?

STEM is a short acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math. Within this cluster the main ideas include the providing, planning, and managing of scientific research such as laboratory testing, clinical trials, and research. Jobs among the STEM career cluster offer high demand, and jobs that industries depend on, which creates a desirable market for skilled professionals. The origin of STEM dates back to 1862, under the Morill Act (“this act made it possible for states to establish public colleges funded by the development or sale of associated federal land grants“) It started as a promotion to agricultural science, but the act later established engineering programs as well. After more land was granted, the STEM training began infiltrating the workforce as well. STEM’s growth has been consistent over the past three decades, tallying a 79% occupation increase in that time. Currently, there are about 2.4 million jobs, with an estimated 6.9% growth rate over the next 10 years.

Extended History

Reverting back to the Morill Act of 1862, if we fast-forward almost a century we begin to see the first modern STEM initiatives after the National Defense Education Act (1958) granted over $775 million between scholarships, loans and equipment towards the progression in math, science, and foreign language instruction. After this, over 16,000 students were funded in pursuit of doctorates in STEM fields from 1959-1969.

Graphs and Statistical Data

Based on the graph above, we can see that just in the last 10 years the demand for computer occupations is as high as 70% more predominant than other fields in the STEM career cluster. Computer occupations would fall under the technology category of STEM, and as we transition to more jobs and career fields that require artificial intelligence, we will continue to see this number rise.

As our country progresses technologically and with more science based information being used, occupations such as aerospace engineers, chemists, microbiologists, and thousands more have been common among the American people.

Within the next few months, this batch of Integrated Studies majors will be walking the stage. Unlike traditional majors, the minors we have selected will dictate the direction we will take. The minors we have chosen as a collective are listed below, along with the occupation opportunities currently leading within the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathmatics, according to the USNews & World Report’s list of the 31 Best Overall STEM Positions in 2024.

Management: IT Management (#2 Best Overall STEM Position), IT managers coordinate and oversee computer and technology related duties. Medical and Health Services Manager (#5), management of healthcare systems, responsible for hiring staff, overseeing budgets, and creating goals for the medical department. At Texas State, management minors enroll in accounting, economics, and business courses that build their repertoire in management.

Writing: Writing is a widely useful skill that can improve any job application. Within this minor, students master the art of writing in artistic, informational, and persuasive methods. Information Security Analyst (#6 Best Overall STEM Position) monitors cyber security. Operations Research Analyst (#10) compares financial data for corporations.

Animal Science: Veternarian, physician for a large variety of animals. Zookeeper, maintains and cares for captive animals. Animal Science minors study animal behavior, diets, and genetics. In this altruistic career path, they focus on the welfare of animals.

Sustainability: Environmental Engineer (#16), Focus on reducing environmental impacts through the use of biology, chemistry, and ethics. Environmental Engineering Technician (#31) Work hands-on, building the devices responsible for regulating environmental pollution. Here at Texas State University, the sustainability minor is focused on environmental health and conservation.

Biology: Data Scientist (#7), Data Scientists collect, investigate, and analyze data to discover insights on natural phenomena. Biomedical Engineer (#17), responsible for the manufacturing of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, as well as medical research. Biology as a minor covers a broad scheme of classes involving statistics, mathematics, ecological principles, and animal studies.